It’s a rare occurrence for a sports team to make one appearance in a championship game and even rarer for the same team to earn a spot in the championships two years in a row. Bruriah’s volleyball B-league team defied those odds and took home the championship trophy for a second straight year.
Led by Coach Aviva Jacobs, Lightning (9-3) went head-to-head with the previously undefeated Magen David Warriors on the Warriors’ home court. Bruriah lost in close sets in the teams’ three regular-season meetings, its only losses of the season.
Senior, captain Arielle Miodownik, said “What makes our team so amazing is that we bond on and off the court. This season has been so much fun and I’m so proud of the individual improvement that each person has had.” Senior captain, Racheli Benoff, concurred, “Our team is such a cohesive family, and it sounds cliche but it’s so deeply true, of growing together to the point of instinctively knowing how to tell each girl that I ‘have her back,’ whether literally being there in case she needs help or a smile when setting the ball extra and being able to trust that each girl would do the exact same for me, and I think that’s really something unique to the environment of our team.”
Winning a championship on an opponent’s home court is no simple task. In front of a standing-room-only crowd, the Lightning treated its electric fan base to a solid, intelligently played 2-0 victory. Clad in school colors and Lightning apparel, the fans got what they came for. Leading the charge with Miodownik were captains and seniors, Benoff and Rivki Hook, who have provided consistent leadership all season. Their focus and poise on the court were crucial especially in the tight first set. Lightning scored first and with the score to 2-0, the Warriors reeled off seven points. Lightning eventually tied the score then took the lead by setting up and spiking well-placed hits. The lead changed hands throughout the remainder of the set until Lightning took the lead for good at 20 to end the set on a fabulously exciting run.
Setter Rachel Goldman (’19) said, “We have such an amazing and close knit team both on and off the court. Every single player on our team, whether it’s through playing or cheering, has contributed to our championship win and our amazing season.” She’s referring to fellow starters Racheli Finkelstein (’20) and Mimi Rieger (’19), as well as teammates Devorah Burg (’20), Sheva Feldman (’19), Atarah Mandel (’21), Kayla Miodownik (’20), Avigail Sheinbein (’19) and Eliana Teichman (’19). Kayla Miodownik said, “I am so proud to be part of a team that works so well together both on and off the court.” The Lightning created a bit more space for themselves in the second set and held a 10-point lead for most of the set, finishing comfortably 25-10 to secure its second championship in as many years. Rieger, looked to for her reliable, effective serve said, “Our team is like a family. We support each other, there’s no judgment, and no matter what the outcome of the game is, our spirits are always high. We have an amazing coach, who helped us get to this point by always believing in us. I’m so thankful to be part of such a close-knit family.”
Bruriah Lightning will celebrate its recent successes in sports by hanging banners for this championship and for finishing the basketball regular season as division champions.
By JLNJ Sports Staff
